Maharashtra Cabinet Directs Rs 5 Lakh Custodial Death Compensation And Rs 80000 Aid For Students
The state government of Maharashtra has made key policy decisions aimed at strengthening accountability inside police stations while offering direct financial relief to college students. In a state cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the council of ministers cleared a comprehensive relief policy that provides five lakh rupees to families in the event of a custodial death. Alongside this human rights measure, the cabinet sanctioned a major hike in annual educational allowances, giving students in top urban centers eighty thousand rupees every year to support their studies.
The highlight of the legal reforms is a transparent relief policy framed to address police violence and misconduct during lawful custody. Under the newly formulated framework, if a person loses their life inside police custody due to torture, physical assault, or unlawful pressure from officers, the state administration will immediately provide a financial compensation of five lakh rupees to the next of kin. This rule sets up a direct safety net for affected families who previously had to engage in long court battles to secure immediate financial assistance.
The policy also specifies clear relief slabs for victims who survive physical or psychological harm while in the custody of law enforcement. If a person sustains less than fifty percent permanent disability as a result of custodial torture, the government will release two lakh rupees as legal relief. In serious circumstances where the physical or mental disability is evaluated at fifty percent or higher, the compensation amount is set at four lakh rupees.
To maintain legal clarity, the cabinet noted that these payments will not apply to deaths that happen from natural causes, old age, or pre existing health conditions recorded prior to the arrest. In every suspected case, the district Superintendent of Police or the local Police Commissioner must take formal notice and submit a detailed inquiry report within thirty days. If the official inquiry establishes that police officers acted with cruelty or negligence, criminal cases will be registered against them. The state government will also recover the full five lakh rupee compensation directly from the salary, pension, or personal assets of the guilty personnel.
Parallel to the police accountability rules, the government announced substantial assistance for students belonging to Scheduled Caste, neo Buddhist, and Scheduled Tribe communities. Eligible candidates who apply for admission to government hostels but cannot find accommodation due to high seat demand will now receive enhanced financial support under the Swadhar and Swayam initiatives. This support allows young scholars to rent local rooms, arrange meals, and manage transport expenses without putting extra financial burden on their families.
For students pursuing higher education in primary urban centers, the financial assistance has been fixed at eighty thousand rupees per year. This top slab covers colleges located in Mumbai city, Mumbai suburban areas, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad, and Nagpur. Because living and rental costs in these metropolitan areas remain high, the enhanced allowance offers substantial relief to young learners who move away from their villages to pursue higher degrees.
Students enrolled at other district headquarters across the state will receive fifty seven thousand rupees per year under the updated guidelines. Meanwhile, candidates pursuing their higher studies at taluka level centers will be granted fifty thousand rupees annually. The administration recognized that professional courses demand higher spending on specialized study resources, prompting an additional allocation. Candidates enrolled in medical and engineering streams will receive an extra eight thousand rupees every year for academic materials, while students taking other degree courses will get four thousand rupees.
In addition to student welfare and custodial accountability, the cabinet approved the creation of the Chief Minister Bravery Medal to honor exceptional police personnel. Police officers who perform outstanding duties in maintaining law and order or tackling serious crimes will receive this formal medal along with a cash award of fifty thousand rupees. The administration noted that while genuine police valor deserves public recognition and monetary rewards, rogue personnel who misuse authority will face strict recovery penalties and legal prosecution.
These decisions reflect a dual focus on administrative responsibility and educational support across Maharashtra. By enforcing a clear five lakh rupee penalty mechanism backed by salary deductions, the state hopes to curb station house abuses and protect basic human rights. At the same time, expanding annual funding to eighty thousand rupees guarantees that deserving youths from underprivileged backgrounds can comfortably stay in metropolitan cities and complete their professional education.